Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney T.D. today met with representatives of Tmall.com, the world’s largest online retailer. This meeting was part of a busy schedule of events during the Irish agri-food trade mission to China led by Minister Coveney. Recognising the importance of the rapid growth of online retailing in China as a key platform for promoting premium Irish food and beverages, Minister Coveney welcomed continued cooperation between Tmall.com and Bord Bia on behalf of the Irish food industry.

Minister Coveney said “Our partnership with the world’s largest B2C e-commerce platform [Tmall.com] represents an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of sustainably produced, premium Irish food and beverages with the web-savvy Chinese consumer. Witnessing double-digit year-on-year growth, online sales channels are increasingly competing with, and in many cases leapfrogging, traditional brick-and-mortar retail formats and we recognise the value in building partnerships with Tmall.com as the leader in the industry.”

Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive, Bord Bia commented “For Irish products new to the market such as UHT milk, online channels have been instrumental in generating interest and positive feedback, particularly in raising awareness of Ireland’s clean, green and sustainable food credentials which are increasingly important in the Chinese market. Bord Bia’s planned Irish food promotion with Tmall.com will allow discerning Chinese consumers to order a range of Irish food and beverages online.”

A major Irish themed sales promotion is planned to coincide with the global St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March 2015. With over 400 million registered users and more than 100 million unique daily visitors Tmall.com will enable Irish food and beverage producers to access millions of consumers throughout China. Last year, Tmall, combined with its sister platform Taobao, accounted for more than 53% of the €250 billion e-commerce market in China.

Note to Editors

In 2012, Tmall.com had more daily visitors on average than the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Great Wall of China and New York’s Grand central Station combined.